Ultrathin-layer zone electrophoresis of lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes in microdissected liver samples

A highly sensitive electrophoretic separation of lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes in 150-microns ultrathin-layer polyacrylamide gels is described. By means of the incorporation of miniature-sized wells into the gel and by executing all the analytical steps under paraffin oil, this technique allows the exact and sharp separation of the lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes in nanogram-sized microdissected liver tissue samples. With this method the heterogeneous distribution pattern of lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes in the liver acinus of various mammals could be demonstrated, and a new interpretation of their functional roles is offered.